Tuesday, January 14, 2014

TSA Travel Tips Tuesday: Lost & Found

Items
are frequently left behind at TSA checkpoints, whether from seasoned travelers or
first-time fliers. I can attest that it is an empty feeling when you realize
that you left something behind, especially when you realize it at 30,000 feet
in the air.

This
week’s tip is a common sense one, often overlooked in the sometimes hustle and
bustle of travel -- bookmark the TSA lost
and found page. If you do leave an item behind, the page has all of the
contact numbers for TSA lost & found offices at all airports. It’s
important to remember that these numbers are only for items that were left at
TSA checkpoints. If you are missing an item in the ticketing or gate area,
you’ll need to contact your airline or the airport.

Check out the page below, the pricing ranges from somewhere around $3,000 to a high of over $380,000 that I saw during a quick perusal. I start to sweat and hem and haw when I have to spend more than $30 on a watch, I can't imagine having one worth $30k... I would probably sell it and buy me a new car!

And what about the small pocketknife and pair of hair scissors that were stolen by TSA agents--in the first case a TSA supervisor? They would use the term relinquished or confiscated contraband. But whatever you call it, my personal property, very useful to me for years, was taken by government agents. Why can't one get such items back? Such items should essentially be 'checked' much like a hat check operation, and available for pickup in baggage claim upon the return of the passenger to the same airport. And other arrangements for returning checkpoint contraband can be made.

But it is "we're taking it from you and you ain't gettin' it back." THIS is not America.

Since the thoughtless implementation of the TSA and its security protocols rendered most airport terminals functionally obsolete--checked bags go in first LONG before security checkpoints, making access to checked baggage as an option for dealing with checkpoint contraband impossible, not to mention the awkward physical arrangement of airline terminals with security checkpoints shoehorned into areas NEVER part of the architect's vision and design for activities with such human density, equipment, furniture and other spaces for personnel.

Every hour of every day the Islamic terrorists win and affect my life and that of countless others.

Save the ends justify the means argument--that has become the government littany.

tramky said:"And what about the small pocketknife and pair of hair scissors that were stolen by TSA agents--in the first case a TSA supervisor? They would use the term relinquished or confiscated contraband. But whatever you call it, my personal property, very useful to me for years, was taken by government agents. Why can't one get such items back? Such items should essentially be 'checked' much like a hat check operation, and available for pickup in baggage claim upon the return of the passenger to the same airport. And other arrangements for returning checkpoint contraband can be made.

But it is "we're taking it from you and you ain't gettin' it back." THIS is not America.

Since the thoughtless implementation of the TSA and its security protocols rendered most airport terminals functionally obsolete--checked bags go in first LONG before security checkpoints, making access to checked baggage as an option for dealing with checkpoint contraband impossible, not to mention the awkward physical arrangement of airline terminals with security checkpoints shoehorned into areas NEVER part of the architect's vision and design for activities with such human density, equipment, furniture and other spaces for personnel.

Every hour of every day the Islamic terrorists win and affect my life and that of countless others.

Save the ends justify the means argument--that has become the government littany."i believe that the tsa tried to implement a new prohibited items list that allowed small knives but it was turned down by numberous entites including the flight attendants union. i am curious as to if there were signs posted in front of the security area that told you that the knife was not allowed? if not then i can see why you would think that such an item was allowed. i think that it is rational for the government to hold onto items that are not allowed so that they can spend time and money cataloging such items and these areas should be staffed 24/7 so that whenever you come back that they are available to provide you with the item that was not allowed in the first place. imagine that after 12 or so years of the tsa manning the security areas that people would not realize that knives are not allowed. its the tsas fault for not gettting hte message out. as a matter of fact people should not be required to know what is in their bags or on their person at any time, its too much effort and the tsa should be more responsible for what people dont know that they have.

The difference is those items were simply forgotten. You were told not to bring pocket knives and scissors on the airplane when you bought your ticket. Any airline ticket I have purchased in the last 11 or so years had in some way included a banned items list . so stop thinking you are special and exempt from the rules that everyone else is following .

"A convicted TSA security officer says he was part of a "culture" of indifference that allowed corrupt employees to prey on passengers' luggage and personal belongings with impunity, thanks to lax oversight and tip-offs from TSA colleagues."

The flying public has a greater chance to suffer a loss at the hands of TSA than they do from terrorists. I guess that makes TSA a terrorist organization as far as the public is concerned.

Things have gotten so bad for travelers that even Congress is making moves to return all screening functions to non-government workers, and it's about time. The public has suffered long enough at the hands of TSA and the unprofessional screeners in our airports.

Anonymous said...The difference is those items were simply forgotten. You were told not to bring pocket knives and scissors on the airplane when you bought your ticket. Any airline ticket I have purchased in the last 11 or so years had in some way included a banned items list . so stop thinking you are special and exempt from the rules that everyone else is following .

January 15, 2014 at 11:52 AM

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I have never received a list of banned items when purchasing an airline ticket. Can you tell us what airline(s) you normally fly on?

Interesting timing of this post. There was a news report today of a TSA SUPERVISOR caught stealing things from Lost-and-Found: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/01/15/4613220/tsa-supervisor-at-charlotte-douglas.html#.UtcJ7rZgPfY

Since you seem capable of answering questions about expensive watches with external links to commercial websites, how about answering about the effectiveness of the full body scanners, as has been questioned here by myself and others repeatedly?

Your weekly data pretty much these machines are not effective, in addition to being slow, demeaning, invasive and expensive. Why do you still use them, then?

I think that is a much more important question to answer to the flying public than providing examples of expensive watches.

"Things have gotten so bad for travelers that even Congress is making moves to return all screening functions to non-government workers, and it's about time."

TSA has had a dozen years to address these concerns and they don't seem to be interested. Instead they've condoned and embraced an atmosphere of confrontation with the public. Any concerns the public has over mistreatment at the checkpoint can turn into retaliation. When you justify barking orders at the publics that makes it easy to dismiss complaints, including difficult to prove theft allegations thereby encouraging more theft. All proper procedures were followed, unless the passenger has their own video to prove otherwise. Hopefully Congress will act as TSA has failed miserably to fix their shortcomings.

rb said:"I guess that makes TSA a terrorist organization as far as the public is concerned."please site a reference and no the internet does not count as you have stated before. please provide where the public views tsa as a terroist organization. if you cannot provide a reference then state this as your opinion. i would like the person that is about to undergo trial for shooting and killing one tsa officer if he would utilize the blog and if his opinion of tsa was in some way determined by the blog. if so then i say remove it.

"A recently-fired superviser with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is in custody on a misdemeanor larceny charge in connection with the theft of an iPad from Charlotte-Douglas' lost and found.

WCNC/NBC Charlotte reports that police identified him as 33-year-old Angel Fransico Caban. Caban was recently promoted to supervisor at the airport and was fired after police found an iPad that was left in the airport's lost and found.

Police told the station they recovered the alleged stolen iPad from inside Caban's home. For months police said they received reports about items passengers had left behind that had gone missing from the lost and found area. They launched an investigation, which eventually led them to Caban's home."

Rb sez - "Since TSA claims to be a professional, dedicated, and hard working organization why can't the TSA Blog Team post comments in a timely fashion?"

As explained before, the blog is only part of the blog team members jobs. Very rarely does a posting go past 48 hours without being reviewed (and then it is usually when there is vacation going on). This comment was approved in less than 24 hours.What suggestions do you have to change the process?

Bubba sez - "Since you seem capable of answering questions about expensive watches with external links to commercial websites, how about answering about the effectiveness of the full body scanners, as has been questioned here by myself and others repeatedly?"

I have not responded because most of the information about AIT has been posted here on the blog and on TSAs main site. For more information on the AIT, see the following links:

As for the effectiveness of the AIT, the machine gives us the best opportunity to discover non-metallic as well as metallic items on a passengers person - which means it can find more items than a metal detector. While we may not see many cases where dangerous items are found with AIT, it can act as a deterrent.

West, the very fact that this blog publishes a weekly list of guns and knives found at checkpoints proves that neither AIT nor WTMD is a deterrent, especially when we know that at least as many guns and knives as are found get through checkpoints and on to aircraft.

GSOLTSO said...Rb sez - "Since TSA claims to be a professional, dedicated, and hard working organization why can't the TSA Blog Team post comments in a timely fashion?"...............................................As explained before, the blog is only part of the blog team members jobs. Very rarely does a posting go past 48 hours without being reviewed (and then it is usually when there is vacation going on). This comment was approved in less than 24 hours.What suggestions do you have to change the process?WestTSA Blog TeamJanuary 18, 2014 at 4:54 AM

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For starters TSA could end the illegal censorship of peoples comments. The Constitution and legal history is clear that government (TSA) cannot inftinge on free speech. Those government employees who work with the TSA Blog are clearly guilty of these violations and should be prosecuted and removed from government service.

Second, there is no reason that comments cannot be posted daily if not more often.

If TSA is going to squander our tax dollars on a worthless blog then do it right.

Hi TSA can you please help me! I just lost my Macbook Pro 2 days ago at Chicago O'Hare's airport. I presume that I left it at the TSA security clearance check area at around 9:20am. I have called the TSA lost and found number for this airport and I have left the message regarding my lost laptop. However, I am getting very worried as they have no yet replied me and I have no one to talk to regarding this issue as all i can do is leave a message! It is possible that someone stole it after? Is there anyway that the TSA can help me look through CCTV to locate my laptop? It is very urgent and important for me as I am also a foreigner and therefore, i will be leaving the country soon!! I think i forgot to take it after it came out of the scanner as i was distracted with another officer who asked to open my carry on luggage and I left without my laptop!

HELP TSA! ive been calling and calling the lost and found at ohare airport and no one responds. The day my phone was left there, we called before takeoff and they confirmed they had the phone ... I need to get my phone back, its been 2 weeks of no communication whatsover, there is no human response from any department .. this isnt right....Ive called every available number and email. The phone was at that check point 2 weeks ago... thanks

I have been phoning tsa lost and found at ohare airport for 2 weeks about a phone I lost that they confirmed they had (minuntes after I forgot it rushing to catch a flight, flight attendant called checkpoint, they had the phone in hand) and cannot get a response from anyone, I need assistance on this.

Im going to call, text and write every day to every phone or contact i can find until I get a call from someone.